“Something very powerful and supernatural* exists, doesn’t seem to be hostile, and doesn’t mind that I call it the Christian God.”
For what it’s worth, I’m .9+ confident of the following claims: 1) there exist phenomena in the universe that “human science” (1) doesn’t commonly accept. 2) for any such phenomenon X, X doesn’t mind that you call it the Christian God 3) for any such phenomenon X, X doesn’t mind that you call it a figment of your imagination 4) for any such phenomenon X, X is not “hostile” (2) to humans
So it seems we agree on that much. Indeed, I find it likely that most people on this site would agree on that much.
the amount of evidence that there is something supernatural* if far greater than the amount of evidence that there are millions of people lying about their experiences.
As above, I think the evidence supporting the idea that there exist phenomena in the universe that “human science” (1) doesn’t commonly accept is pretty strong. The evidence supporting the idea that people lie about their experiences, confabulate their experiences, and have experiences that don’t map to events outside their own brains despite seeming to, is also pretty strong. These aren’t at all conflicting ideas; I am confident of them both.
Do you mean to suggest that, because there exist such phenomena, human reports are therefore credible? I don’t see how you get from one to the other.
Seeing things that aren’t there wold be a sign of something being very wrong with me
Not really, no. It happens to people all the time. I had the experience once of being visited by Prophetic Beings from Outside Time who had a Very Significant Message for me to impart to the masses. That doesn’t mean I’m crazy. It also doesn’t mean that Prophetic Beings from Outside Time have a Very Significant Message for me to impart to the masses.
either I and some others are insane with an unknown form of insanity, or there is something out there.
Again: there are almost certainly many things out there. That doesn’t mean that every experience you have is an accurate report of the state of the universe. And if the particular experience you had turns out not to be an accurate report of the state of the universe, that doesn’t mean you’re insane.
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(1) Given what I think you mean by that phrase. For example, nuclear physics was outside the realm of what human science commonly accepted in the year 1750, so was supernatural then by this definition, although it is not now.
(2) Given what I think you mean by that phrase. For example, I assume the empty void of interstellar space is not considered hostile, even though it will immediately kill an unprotected human exposed to it.
For what it’s worth, I’m .9+ confident of the following claims:
1) there exist phenomena in the universe that “human science” (1) doesn’t commonly accept.
2) for any such phenomenon X, X doesn’t mind that you call it the Christian God
3) for any such phenomenon X, X doesn’t mind that you call it a figment of your imagination
4) for any such phenomenon X, X is not “hostile” (2) to humans
So it seems we agree on that much.
Indeed, I find it likely that most people on this site would agree on that much.
As above, I think the evidence supporting the idea that there exist phenomena in the universe that “human science” (1) doesn’t commonly accept is pretty strong. The evidence supporting the idea that people lie about their experiences, confabulate their experiences, and have experiences that don’t map to events outside their own brains despite seeming to, is also pretty strong. These aren’t at all conflicting ideas; I am confident of them both.
Do you mean to suggest that, because there exist such phenomena, human reports are therefore credible? I don’t see how you get from one to the other.
Not really, no. It happens to people all the time. I had the experience once of being visited by Prophetic Beings from Outside Time who had a Very Significant Message for me to impart to the masses. That doesn’t mean I’m crazy. It also doesn’t mean that Prophetic Beings from Outside Time have a Very Significant Message for me to impart to the masses.
Again: there are almost certainly many things out there.
That doesn’t mean that every experience you have is an accurate report of the state of the universe.
And if the particular experience you had turns out not to be an accurate report of the state of the universe, that doesn’t mean you’re insane.
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(1) Given what I think you mean by that phrase. For example, nuclear physics was outside the realm of what human science commonly accepted in the year 1750, so was supernatural then by this definition, although it is not now.
(2) Given what I think you mean by that phrase. For example, I assume the empty void of interstellar space is not considered hostile, even though it will immediately kill an unprotected human exposed to it.